Service to mark one-year since launch of funeral directors investigation
INVESTIGATION: Legacy Independent Funeral Directors
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
A memorial service to mark 12 months since concerns were raised about care for the deceased at Legacy Independent Funeral Directors is to take place in Hull next month.
Humberside Police launched a major investigation in March 2024 after being alerted to the concerns at the company’s premises in Hessle Road and Anlaby Road in Hull, and at Beckside in Beverley.
As part of the inquiry, a total of 35 bodies were moved from the Hessle Road site.
The force submitted a file of evidence containing more than 13,000 exhibits to the Crown Prosecution Service in January, for prosecutors to decide if any charges should be brought in the case.
Families directly affected by the investigation have been invited to attend the memorial event at Hull Minster on Thursday, March 6.
The service, which will be held on an invite-only basis, will start at 7pm, and will last around 45 minutes.
It will be led by the Bishop of Hull, the Right Reverend Dr Eleanor Sanderson, and the Vicar of Hull Minster, Reverend Canon Dr Dominic Black.
The Bishop of Hull said: “We offer this service to support the families who continue to bear the distress and grief caused by the revelations one-year ago.
“Our desire as a church has always been to offer all that we can from our faith tradition to seek to restore and uphold the dignity of those affected.
“I pray that the families who gather here will experience respect, love and care, for themselves and each other as well as for their loved ones.”
Canon Black said: “It has been a long and traumatic process for the families involved in this.
“We hope and pray that this service offers some comfort and healing for those involved.”
Invites have been sent over the past few weeks to families directly affected by the investigation, and with Hull Minster expected to be close to capacity, the event will not be open to the general public.
Hull Minster is working with Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which have offered support to affected families since the case first emerged.
Hull City Council’s director of adult social care, Tracy Meyerhoff, who is leading the work to support the families and communities affected, said: “We realise the impact of this incident is spread far and wide across the city and beyond, and there will be a lot of attention on this service.
“However, many people who will be attending are still dealing with their grief, and want to do so in their own way.
“It’s important that these people be given the privacy they need to reflect and remember on what will be a difficult day.
“We also recognise there may be others who will find great strength in coming together with those who have had the same shared experience.”
East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s recovery lead for the incident and director of housing, transportation and public protection, Angela Dearing, said: “So that we can enable each directly affected family to attend the service within the space that is available in Hull Minster, they have initially been offered two invites to the service.
“We realise that there may be other people connected to this incident who may want to attend, and whilst we will do what we can to offer them any spare seats, we are limited in the numbers who can come into Hull Minster.
“There will; however, be the opportunity on the evening to light a candle and to write a tribute message, and these options will remain open at Hull Minster in the weeks after the service for anyone who is unable to attend the event.”
The charity Victim Support continues to run a dedicated, independent helpline and support service for anyone affected by the case, on 0808 281 1136.